"Winning means you are still in the group, but if you lose it's almost over," admitted Van Bommel. "Spurs have a lot of quality players and weapons to win games, but we have that also. In my opinion, Inter, Barcelona and Tottenham are almost equal. There are no big differences."

PSV are five points clear domestically, having won all nine matches so far. They hammered Emmen 6-0 at the weekend to take their goal difference to plus-33. But it's been a different story in Europe, suffering a 4-0 battering at the Nou Camp, then losing 2-1 at home to Inter — having scored first.

Tottenham led in Milan but lost, and scored two in home defeat against Barcelona (Image: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Van Bommel feels losing would leave PSV or Spurs looking at third place and the Europa league (Image: SIPA USA/PA Images)

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Spurs, who also led the Italians before getting beaten 2-1, are also enjoying their best start to a Premier League season — despite their players' supposed tiredness following the World Cup.

Russia 2018 Golden Boot winner Harry Kane has still not hit his stride this term, and former Holland international midfielder Van Bommel added: "I think all the top teams in Europe have that problem. I don't think Spurs are playing badly, they can play in several ways.

"It's difficult, they played a long road in the World Cup and have some injuries but I think they are doing well.